Five Reasons Why the Old School Business Card Are Still Important

Here are five reasons why the old school business card are still important -- and why you should have a pocket full of them at all times.

1. Networking is about making genuine connections. Sending contact information via text or email on the spot is convenient but it is also extremely impersonal. Engaging in eye contact and actual conversation is how real relationships begin.

Two individuals with their heads buried in their phones typing away won’t create any kind of significant memory of the encounter. You can easily transfer the information from a business card to your mobile device after the conversation.

2. Email marketing, search engine optimization and paid media all do a great job of attracting leads and prospects, but they still aren’t as effective as an in-person meeting sealed with a handshake along with a business card exchange.

You can encounter a potential lead or contact at any time -- tradeshows, industry conferences, happy hour, airport lounges -- and arming yourself with business cards at all times will ensure that you never miss an opportunity to make a valuable business connection. Keep some in your pockets, wallet, money clip or laptop bag so the next time you encounter a prospect you are prepared.

3. When you meet someone that could potentially be a great prospect or connection, don’t you want him or her to walk away with a great first impression? A memorable business card does a lot more than just pass on an email address or phone number. Your goal is to make a memorable first impression.

Yes fancy cards, they cost more -- but think of how many unnecessary expenses you can cut to allocate funds for great business cards. Hold off on the ping pong table and espresso machine for the office and get some business cards that will make a great first impression.

4. A business card is a physical object that a potential prospect leaves the encounter with. Your brand stays with them.

If you meet a prospect and exchange email addresses and phone numbers you each walk away with another contact on your mobile phone -- it ends there. If you hand over a creative business card that makes a great impression that person is likely to show it to other people -- putting you and your brand in front of additional prospects.

5. Have you ever had someone write his or her contact information on a cocktail napkin and hand it over to you? How about someone that had a mobile phone with a dead battery? It isn’t the most professional approach.

If you met two individuals and one was scrambling to find a pen and something to write on and the other person simply pulled out a business card, who would you want to do business with? Showing that you are prepared at all times is a great indicator that you are professional.

www.bouncemarketing.org | 386-734-9600

Print is an Effective Tool for Delivering Your Message to Your Audiences

As technology continues to develop—and change the way we do business—many have considered print a dead medium and online marketing the wave of the future. Nevertheless, the print industry is far from dead; in fact, print marketing has only continued to grow and evolve alongside the upsurge of new technology.

Direct mail continues to be used heavily, with a 43% share of total local retail advertising. And, according to a Pitney Bowes survey, 76% of small businesses say their ideal marketing strategy encompasses a combination of both print and digital communication.

There are many reasons why print is (and will remain) an effective tool for delivering your message to your audiences.

Variable Printing

Although variable printing is by no means a new process, consumers have been using it with more frequency as advancements in printing technology have lowered the cost. Variable printing allows you to uniquely customize each piece of media by changing certain elements from piece to piece, taking advantage of the power of complex personalization.

Social networking has become an integral part of the way entrepreneurs reach their customers, but the idea of networking has been around much longer than Facebook and Twitter. After all, what's a business card if not a social medium? When you hand a potential customer or business relation a business card, you're making a social connection with that person and giving them the means to do the same with you.

Social media can also be fully integrated with any print marketing strategy or campaign. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a business card from a serious entrepreneur without his or her Facebook address, Twitter address, or other social networking URL printed on it. (Slightly over half of respondents to a Nielsen survey said they used a social media advertising campaign in conjunction with print media.)

You still need to develop an effective print strategy that will put your brand in the spotlight and excite your audience. If you use the same, boring print materials as everyone else, you will have a hard time making your mark.

Get creative, put some real thought and effort into your print marketing collateral, and make use of all the tools and technologies available to you.

www.bouncemarketing.org | 386-734-9600

Bounce Marketing Institute wants to help you get noticed!!

Create a 10 year plan which aligns with Your Vision...

bouncemarketing.org - 386-734-9600

Web Design | Print Design | Computer Repair | Training

610 Deltona Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725

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Bounce Marketing, Institute provides training and free youth workshops. Plus our design studio offers printing, websites, and more.

We supply full service branding plans and products for our client's to ensure business, civic, or personal growth.We wish to give free consulting services to businesses, individuals, & community groups, plus to offer various affordable solutions to assist in the successful efforts of those in the community.

We offer to give free educational workshops for professionals and youth groups. This is made possible by designing (or re-designing) websites, creating business cards, logos, banners and other affordable advertising solutions. Please visit our blog webpage:http://bouncemarketinginstitute.blogspot.com/ OR our webpage: www.bouncemarketing.org

Bounce Marketing shares when to say 'no'

We are all busy.  Actually busy has become the new status symbol and that isn’t just at work.  We spend our time prioritizing – sorting out the urgent, important and the things that can be left for later.

As a business owner or manager, it would be wonderful if you could dedicate the time needed to all staff; however, this is often not the case.  It is necessary to prioritize competing demands.  It is important that you don’t get caught up and engrossed in the trivial just because it seems urgent at the time from the person making the demand be it a staff member or a customer.

There is an empowering word in our language that is not used enough and that is the word “no”.

Check out our other blog - www.cflprofessionals.com 

 Whether you are a manager or a parent, using the word ‘no’ allows you to:

• Set boundaries
• Have more control
• Improve your time management
• Have some free time
• Less stress and pressure
• Increased energy
• More clarity around what is important

When you can’t say no, you may feel:

• Overworked
• Stressed
• Not in control
• Resentful

There is an art to saying ‘no’ and not actually saying ‘no’.  Some examples include:

• Can I get back to you later today?
• I can’t see you now, how about 2 pm in your office?
• I wish I could help you but …
• I wish I could do that but …
• I know someone who would do a great job with that …

When as a business owner or manager you are using your time wisely, that means you can be focused on what you are meant to be focused on, which is usually building the business and achieving goals and objectives.

www.bouncemarketing.org

BounceMarketing.org talks about Mentoring and Coaching!!

Coaching and mentoring are two forms of training that provide employees with:

• Knowledge
• Skills
• Attitudes

This enables employees to perform their job to the best of their abilities.  The aim is to develop people for future jobs within the organisation.  Training was known as a long-term investment in human capital; however, in today’s work environment, continuous learning is imperative.

(Stop By at 610 Deltona Blvd., Deltona, FL to learn more)

Training has the following benefits:

• Improves quality
• Boots productivity
• Helps the organisation to be competitive
• Strengthens employee commitment
• Responds to customer needs
• Assisting in meeting individual and organisational goals

Training and mentoring are indispensable in your organisation; this can include:

• Informal
• On-the-job training
• Classroom training
• Electronic training
• Experiential training
• Mentoring
• Coaching

Needs Analysis

The first step in the process is to identify any training gaps or areas for improvement either for the individual or the organisation as a whole.

Once you have identified the training needs, it is about finding the training that suits the individual.

Just keep in mind, the more you invest in your staff and their training, the more they will reward you with improved work practices and generally getting more done in less time.  This, in turn, will impact on your bottom line.  That is one reason why it is well worth investing in training, coaching and mentoring.

Learn More about this subject at BounceMarketing.org

Are you in the right career or not?

All the professional development programs, time management techniques and goal setting won’t assist and support you if you are not engaged at work.

Ask yourself, “Am I in the right job?”

• Do I look forward to work?
• Can I attach personal importance to the work I do?
• Can I see myself in this profession in the medium to long term?
• Is this job a short-term step to a greater long-term plan?
• Are you making a good living wage?

There are many stories of people who have worked in a particular industry or location for a long time and eventually realize that it’s no longer for them. Bounce!., can help you!

Signs that you could watch out for which can let you know that you might be disengaged at work:

• Frequent colds
• Headaches
• Forgetfulness
• Tiredness
• Poor sleep
• Loss of sense of humor
• Bad tempered with family, work colleagues and friends
• Drinking
• Job Hunting online or in the newspaper

Of course there are a lot more signs but these are just a few.

If you are disengaging at work, ask yourself why are you there?  Some people find themselves in a particular profession because:

• Your parents wanted you to
• Your partner wanted you to
• You made a mistake
• You had financial pressures and this was an option at that time
• The work was attractive but it has now changed
• You thought you could grow in the job
• It was the easy option
• It was the first option

You may have disengaged from work not because of the actual job; it may be because of the environment.  We spend a lot of time at work and the environment is important.

It is time you started to ask yourself some questions.  We spend a lot of time at work, so it is important to be engaged and enjoy what you do.

• Think about what aspects of your work you enjoy.
• Think about what aspects of your work you don’t enjoy.
• What could you do differently at your current workplace?
• Are you still at the same workplace because of the pay?
• Are you at the same workplace because of the benefits – sick leave, long service leave, easy job?
• Do you see yourself in this industry for many years or not?

When you have taken time to evaluate and answer these and other questions honestly, then you can either make some changes to your current work position and profession or change?  It’s always your choice!

Bounce Marketing Institute is available with training courses to help you!

Visit us at bouncemarketing.org

5 reasons why you need a responsive website design,

5 reasons why you need a responsive website design, including expanded reach, SEO benefits, reduced cost, content more readable, etc. 

At one time, all you needed was to have a single-platform website. Then along came mobile browsing, and the stats available indicated that you needed a mobile (.mobi) site. With the arrival of the iPad and other tablets, responsive website design is the go-to option to have. Responsive website design automatically adapts to the screen shape, size and other parameters of all web-enabled devices, and there are a number of reasons why you need this for your small business, church or ministry website. 

Reason #1: Mobile is Huge – and Getting Bigger

Between 2010 and 2012, the share of web traffic coming from mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) grew by 163%, and a mobile data forecast from Cisco predicts that by the end of 2013 there will be more mobile devices on earth than people. Mobile now accounts for 12% of U.S. users’ online content consumption, and the numbers are growing.

According to Google trainer, Ty Schlegel, “Google searches on mobile devices are on pace to overtake searches on desktop computers in the next 18 months.”

This means that if you want to reach people with your message, your website needs to be available on mobile devices without the typical problems associated with loading and viewing of regular web pages on a small screen. These include:

• Difficulty reading the text
• Image display issues, and
• Eternal scrolling to reach the navigation buttons 

Reason #2: Your Content is More Easily Readable

If you’ve ever tried to read a non-responsive blog post or web page on your smart phone, you’ll know how difficult it can be. If the page is static, you’re able to view a couple words at a time, and end up scrolling from side to side just to view a line of text. On the old .mobi sites, the text would typically display at what the device felt was a readable size, but you still had to scroll down forever to view it all, and images were often reduced to one or two to resolve loading issues.

With responsive website design, however, tapping the screen optimizes the content for the device, and you can “pinch” or “unpinch” a section of the view to zoom in or out. These options make the website eminently more readable than either the computer-based site, or the old mobile site was able to be. 

Reason #3: One Site Costs Less than Several

Few websites are designed for mobile only, which means you either have to forfeit the mobile traffic, or you need to design two (or more!) different sites. Sure, most web design platforms have offered auto-creation of mobile sites for some time, but they still require a fair bit of work to make them look right.

The biggest drawback to having separate sites is remembering (and finding the time) to update both every time you add content to the site. By having a single, responsive website design, you can:

• Create the site once
• Perform each update once only, and
• Don’t need to worry about the growing variety of devices used to access it 

Reason #4: There are SEO Benefits

You know from one of our former posts that search engine optimization (SEO) is an important outreach strategy, and that it’s critical for driving traffic to your site. Responsive website design helps improve your searchability for a variety of reasons:

• Search engines like Google want to send users to sites they want to view. Stats show that if the performance of a website on mobile devices frustrates users, 61% will return to search for another site. The engines will take note that there could be a usability problem and stop sending them to that site.
• Duplication of content, as you know by now, is a big no-no for search. Having one or more mobile sites, as well as your regular site, means either you publish the same content in more than one place, which lowers your ranking, or you change the content for each of the sites – which increases your costs and effort.
• Mobile ranking – Google has said that it gives sites that are optimized for mobile higher rankings in search.

Reason #5: You Reach More Users

See Reason #1 – as mobile usage continues to grow, without a site optimized for the plethora of devices in the market, you simply won’t have the same reach as you would if you have just one that’s optimized and uses a responsive website design. And this doesn’t only apply to a youthful target market, although three-quarters of Americans under the age of 43 use smartphones to access the web. Seniors are joining the ranks of mobile users in droves, with 69% of Americans over the age of 65 years now owning a mobile device, while 53% of them now use the Internet. These stats indicate that regardless of your target audience demographic characteristics, if you want to reach them you must be available on mobile.

Technology continues to change. Going forward, responsive website design is an important part of your online strategy. 

Learn More at: www.bouncemarketing.org 

Habits of High Performing People!

Here are some habits of High Performers.  Are you high performer?

• Tell people what you are doing and be willing accept help
• Ask people what they are doing and if they need any help
• In non-industry jargon way, share your achievements to your friends and family
• Communicate progress to staff and staff leaders regularly
• Learn and discuss failures - learn what you did and didn't do to recover
• Find a personal business / career coach
• Always ensure that your goals and objectives are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound)
• First focus on the top priorities
• Focus on your performance objectives
• Attend company parties, activities, gatherings, and events
• Tell the truth
• Share solutions when reporting a problem
• Praise people regularly 
• Volunteer to be the spokesperson
• Be sponsor for youth programs, leagues, worthy causes, or professional events when possible
• Prepare for meetings ahead of time
• Learn professional skills and don't stop learning
• Share the positives not the negatives of your personal time
• Take predetermined risks
• Find fun things to do in your personal time and invite others to join you
• Have integrity
• Make decisions and stick to them
• Be loyal to others
• Be honest and upfront with people
• Be nice to everyone (retail workers and administrative assistants)
• Go to networking meetings regularly
• Be a people person
• Be creative and if your ideas are rejected - try again / don't give up
• Respond quickly and be available via email, phone, or in-person
• Always follow up
• Accept and ask for feedback regularly
• Focus on your strengths, know your weaknesses but don't worry about them
• Smile often
• Empower yourself and assume a leadership role until told otherwise
• Stay fit and healthy
• Dress for success but not for conformity
• Help other people and accept help from others
• Be a role model for others and get a few positive role models to look up to
• Read books regularly
• Be different and stand up for what is right
• Have your own thoughts and opinions
• Engage with upper management without fear
• Share knowledge and fruits of success
• Know when to sell and when to tell
• Never Stop Making New Friends and remember their names
• Just do it and get it done
• Arrive early
• Avoid excuses in any form
• Proof read what you write
• Ask questions especially when you are in doubt about something
• Take time to eat so you are not running on empty
• Know your goals 
• Organize your work space regularly
• Don't avoid conflict if it's necessary
• Be real to yourself and others
• Hold people accountable
• Take the blame - don't blame others
• Help make new ideas happen vs. being a barrier for them to happen
• Remember delegation is a form of empowerment
• Be a good listener
• Allow people to make mistakes but hold them accountable for repeating the same mistake continuously
• Protect the producers
• Be committed - use words like: do, will, yes, and no
• Know the deadline and conditions for success
• Don't Procrastinate
• Get to an agreement 
• Remember your time and other's time is precious

Learn more about Bounce Marketing's Managing Director at: www.bouncemarketing.org

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How to Build Communication Bridges with Your Clients

Building the perfect business relationship with potential client doesn’t come with a book of instructions.  If it did, the task would be much easier… (Yet a lot of gurus say they know how to build a relationship with clients and have written books about the subject.) But the reality is every client relationship is different.

Just when you think you survived the startup phase with your new venture, you learn the easy part is over and now the growth years are on the way. Facing the growth years within your venture is not something you need to be afraid of, it simply means there is a lot of work ahead of you. This blog post will help you take the experience one day at a time and learn how to bridge the communication gap.

The Message

As your sales team goes from new to veteran, sometimes what you ‘say’ gets lost in translation.  They can give you that blank stare or worse yet they misunderstand how to sell the product or service correctly which costs you time and money.  But with regular trainings on products, services, and selling techniques you can overcome this hurdle.

The Bridge

It’s not easy to keep the communication bridges open with a client because they too are trying to grow and make the choices that will have a vital impact on their future. They are becoming capable of spending larger amounts of money, having less and less time available to meet with you, and have their own difficulties they need you to help address.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1.       Watch your body language. 

How you move says a lot about you.  When a person is tired, they tend to slump.  When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits.  Believe it or you’re your clients are good at interpreting body language.  Yours will betray you when you are talking to them.  Keep it open and honest.  Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes looking away from them or squirming in your seat.

2.       Make eye contact. 

When you don’t look at the person - you are non-verbally showing that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested in what they have to say.  Your client will shut down emotionally when they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them or worse yet end the meeting early.  Sit comfortably and give your client undivided attention with consistent eye contact.  It lets them know that you care.

3.       Keep your emotions in check. 

Remember back to when you were in high school?  Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at freaking them out.  Clients will push your buttons if they can - don’t go overboard and get upset.  Their target is opening lines of communication for sharing their concerns or disinterest, sometimes they know it may make you mad.  Instead, take a deep breath, listen closely, repeat what you hear back, and ignore the taunt.  Do the opposite of what they expect because really, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real problem.

4.       Ask them about their day. 

This technique works with spouses also.  Even if your client only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” ask anyway.  This shows you care. How many sales people really ask that question anyways? (Your show of caring will go a long way to convince them that you are interested in the things that they do and how they feel.)

5.       Be honest with them.

If you don’t understand or have an issue about something then say so.  Clients like your kids know when you are being insincere.  Discuss everything honestly and openly, say ‘I don’t know’ if you don’t know, but provide follow up when you find out the answer. Sometimes situational selling works when your client will explain an idea of where they are coming from.  Your client won’t mind explaining as long as they know you are listening. This way they know you really want them to be successful.

6.       Allow them their privacy. 

This one is tricky and since you want to know your client better than anyone else, you need to draw the line.  Clients value their time alone to think about the proposal.  Take a ‘break’ for a coffee and come back to answer questions later. Sometimes, planning a follow up meeting works well too. Never adopt the policy of the hard sale because it could burn the bridge and end the relationship with that client.  Remember, they need to hear your message but you need to listen their desires.  Also, in their office may be that there are no locks on the doors, always show respect by knocking before entering.  If they don’t want to be pressed about placing an order at the moment, wait until they are ready (if it’s not urgent for their timeline) and then make the close.

Being a sales person or a manager of a sales team takes a tough skin, a willingness to be vulnerable and lots of passion for what you do.  You will make mistakes but whatever you do, don’t stop talking ever to your client or training your sales team.

www.bouncemarketing.org 

Thinking of owning your own business or starting a charity?

Opening your own new venture is exciting and thrilling. But be mindful that everything which comes after the excitement and thrill has worn off that dictates whether your new startup will survive. It’s up to you to keep the thrill alive (forever).

So now what?

Bring to write and create a business plan (and yes the term business plan can be used for charities). This plan of action is needed to fulfill your dreams (and financial goals) Remember – you – are your own boss and running a successful venture is up to you. Your success lies with the approach you choose to take and the plan you write. Remember, re-read your plan and make changes as needed to avoid making costly mistakes. (By doing this you will avoid the common pitfalls that many new small startups make when rushing to get going.)

Bounce Marketing offers free consulting workshops to help you…

·         Prepare an initial business plan to clarify your marketing, management, purpose, vision, objectives, and financial goals.

·         Determine your start-up capital needs.

·         Identify sources of start-up capital and backup sources if needed.

·         Evaluate and quantify your organizational plan for the short and long term

·         Identifying the best business structure that best fits your needs by evaluating it’s advantages and disadvantages.

·         Operational Structure of your venture - ease of operation, establish billing and collection procedures and portability should you need to relocate.

·         Select the right accounting software by evaluating your budget, needs and hardware.

·         Consulting if setting up a home office is a good fit while potentially creating a tax deduction.

·         Resources to help prepare and file all required state and local licenses and permits.

·         Resources to prepare and file your application for your Federal Employer Identification Number.

·         Resources to identify your business insurance needs.

·         Develop a solid Partnership or Board of Directors Agreement. This is an extremely important document for all new partnerships / boards and will help prevent a tremendous amount of problems down the road.

Let us help you succeed by getting your new organization off to a good strong start.

Reach us at: www.facebook.com/bouncemarketing or email us at: design@bouncemarketing.org